About Rick

After attending the University of Maryland, Rick obtained his real estate license in 1973.

He sold resort property in the Ocean City area for several years prior to relocating to Northern Virginia to sell a condominium conversion in Arlington.

Rick was recognized to be the Youngest Regional Training Director in the nation for the Century 21 Real Estate franchise serving Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and South East Pennsylvania.

From 1979 to 1990 Rick sold real estate in the state of Maryland plus together with a partner built a one-office real estate company that sold over $279,000,000 in one year.

Because of Rick’s expertise in real estate sales, marketing and communication skills he was selected to be a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) instructor for the educational branch of the National Association of Realtors to teach other Realtors nationwide how to effectively help individuals looking to buy or sell real estate.

From 1990 through 2001 Rick was a full time speaker/trainer/author and consultant who traveled the United States serving private real estate companies; franchise organizations including Coldwell Banker, Remax, Prudential, Century 21, Keller Williams, Realty Executives and speaking at many local, state and National Association of Realtors events.

During this 11 year period, Rick trained Realtors throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Mexico and South Africa, conducting over 100 events per year and educating over 100,00 Realtors in how to represent and assist people looking to buy real estate or how to get their property sold.

Rick relocated from Maryland in 1998 to the Charleston area and reentered the real estate business as the broker of he and his wife Charlene’s real estate Company called The Group, Llc in 2002.

Rick has been in top 1% of Realtors in numbers of closed transactions since continuing his real estate career in the Charleston area with more than 850 sales totaling more than 175,000,000 averaging 1 closed sale per week since 2002. These numbers are for the Charleston area and is not including the sales he did while living in Maryland.​

Because of Rick’s knowledge and expertise in all areas of real estate he was requested and accepted the role of hosting a real estate talk show that broadcasts from Charleston every Saturday from noon until 1:00 p.m. and repeats every Sunday from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. which is a live call-in talk radio show that you may listen to on 94.3 FM or via the computer or other mobile device at www.943wsc.com or via iHeart Radio App or get podcast of past shows on Rick’s personal website www.rickwillis.com.

Rick’s “Real Estate Show” has been broadcasting on the air since 2003 where Rick answers caller’s questions and talks about everything to do with buying, selling, financing and investing in real estate.

Unlike most Realtors in the Charleston area, Rick knows the entire Charleston area…Not just a small segment of the market.

Rick knows the market…has the expertise and is passionate about helping people to buy or sell.

Contact him right away to check his availability to help you.

On a personal note…Rick and his wife Charlene live in Mount Pleasant with their only child together…A Chihuahua named “Mr. T”.

Both Rick and Charlene enjoy playing league tennis, Yahtzee, eating out, and visiting their 5 kids and 8 grandchildren.

Personally…Past & Present

Born and raised in Maryland (Just outside of Washington D.C.)

Mother grew up on a farm in North Dakota

Father grew up in a small town in Iowa

In 5th Grade attended a 1 room school house in North Dakota close to the Canadian border with 1 teacher for grades 1 to 8!…8 of 17 Kids in the school were cousins!

Ushered at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in January 1963

Achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts

Participated in competitive track and swimming

Coached a Winning swim team in Montgomery County, Maryland

Majored in geography and anthropology at the University of Maryland (1966-1971)

Served in the Maryland Army National Guard 6 years based in Salisbury, Maryland

2 kids raised in Ellicott City, Maryland now living in Los Angeles and near Williamsburg, VA.

Together with Charlene have 5 kids and 8 Grand-kids living in California, the Oklahoma City area, and Toano Virginia (near Williamsburg).

Personally met and had conversations with individuals you might recognize:

“Rudy”…The Real Rudy whom the movie “Rudy” was made.

Evander Holyfield, World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion…

Walter Peyton, Hall of Fame Champion Football Player…

Mike Ditka NFL Player and Football Coach…

Don Schula NFL Football Coach…

Walter Cronkite, News Anchor…

Don King, Boxing Promoter…

Jerry Lewis, Entertainer

Could have retired in 2007 as a result of wise investment decisions involving income producing real estate. Still working as a result of poorly timed speculative development land purchases that could not be sustained during the real estate downturn from 2008 – 2012.

Professionally…Past & Present

Real Estate Agent Maryland

Real Estate Broker Maryland

Real Estate Broker Washington D.C.

Real Estate Agent Virginia

Real Estate Course Instructor to Obtain Real Estate License

GRI Designation (Graduate Realtors Institute)

CRB Designation ( Certified Residential Broker)

CRS Designation (Certified Residential Specialist)

CRS National Instructor

GRI Instructor

Featured Speaker Multiple Times at the National Association of Realtors National Conventions

Featured Speaker Century 21 National Convention

Featured Speaker Coldwell Banker Convention

Featured Speaker Prudential Regional Conventions

Featured Speaker Remax Satellite T.V Network

Speaker and Consultant for Gary Keller/Founder of Keller Williams

Guest Speaker REIA…Real Estate Investors Association

National Association of Realtors Member

South Carolina Association of Realtors Member

Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Member

Real Estate Broker/South Carolina

Featured Speaker at many State Associations of Realtor annual conventions